Nine people are fighting for their lives, and a tenth person is hospitalised, following a horrific Cambridgeshire train stabbing on Saturday evening. British Transport Police (BTP) declared a “major incident” after the attack on a London-bound LNER service. Two men have been arrested, and Counter Terrorism Policing is supporting the BTP-led investigation, though the motive remains unconfirmed.
The attack, which sent panicked passengers fleeing through carriages, began shortly after the train left Peterborough. Armed police stormed the train when it was brought to an emergency stop at Huntingdon station. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the event as an “appalling incident.
- Victims: 10 people were taken to hospital. Nine are confirmed by British Transport Police to have “life-threatening injuries.” One person has non-life-threatening injuries.
- Incident: A mass stabbing occurred on the 6:25 PM LNER service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
- Location: The attack reportedly began after the train left Peterborough. The train was stopped at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where emergency services responded.
- Arrests: Two men were arrested at Huntingdon station. Witnesses reported one suspect was subdued with a Taser on the platform.
- Investigation: British Transport Police (BTP) is leading the investigation, with support from Counter Terrorism Policing.
- Travel Alert: Huntingdon station remains closed. LNER has issued a “Do Not Travel” advisory for the East Coast Main Line, with major disruption expected to last until at least Monday, November 3.
A Terrible Scene, Really Violent
The attack shattered the routine of a busy Saturday evening service. Emergency services were first alerted at 7:39 PM with reports of multiple stabbings.
Passengers on board described scenes of sheer terror. One witness told Sky News they saw a “bloodied” man stumble through their carriage shouting, “They’ve got a knife, I’ve been stabbed.” The man later collapsed.
Other witnesses told reporters there was “blood everywhere” as passengers, including children, ran to escape the attacker. Some passengers reportedly hid in toilets to protect themselves, while others were “stamped on” in the stampede.
Wren Chambers, who was on the train, told the BBC they ran to the front of the train after seeing a man with a bloody arm shouting for people to run. “We were pretty scared once we knew what was happening,” Chambers said.
The train was brought to an emergency stop at Huntingdon. Witnesses on the platform and other services described seeing a man with a “large knife” on the platform. Gavin, a witness who spoke to Sky News, said he saw armed police confront the man. “He then was waving a knife, quite a large knife, and then they detained him. I think it was a Taser that got him down in the end,” he said.
Major Incident’ Declared
A massive, multi-agency response was deployed to Huntingdon station. The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed it sent a “large-scale response,” which included numerous ambulances, tactical commanders, its Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), and critical care teams from the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.
British Transport Police (BTP), which has primacy in the investigation, confirmed the “major incident” status.
This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families,” said BTP Chief Superintendent Chris Casey in a statement. “We’re conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened… At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.”.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary supported the operation, with armed officers attending the scene to secure the train and assist in the arrests.
Motive Probed as Counter-Terror Police Assist
Authorities confirmed that Counter Terrorism Policing is supporting the investigation, a move that is common in complex mass-casualty events.
Several reports confirmed that the national ‘Plato’ protocol was briefly activated. This protocol is a pre-planned response for a “marauding terror attack.” However, this declaration was later “rescinded,” and officials have stressed that the motive is not yet confirmed and urged against public speculation.
The incident comes against a backdrop of national concern over knife crime. Recent Home Office statistics, reported by sources, noted that nearly 60,000 knives had been seized or surrendered in England and Wales over the past year as part of a wider government crackdown. While there is no link between this context and yesterday’s attack, it informs the public and political climate into which this news lands.
Political Reaction and Public Warning
The attack drew immediate condemnation from the highest levels of government.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer posted on X (formerly Twitter): “The appalling incident on a train near Huntingdon is deeply concerning. My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also released a statement, saying she was “deeply saddened” and confirmed she was receiving regular updates. She praised the “immediate” arrest of two suspects and urged the public to “avoid comment and speculation at this early stage” to protect the live investigation.
The local MP for Huntingdon, Ben Obese-Jecty, called the incident “appalling and devastating” and praised the “quick and effective response from the emergency services”.
Impact on Travel and Community
The investigation has caused severe and ongoing travel disruption. LNER, the train operator, released a statement from Managing Director David Horne, who said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the incident.
The operator confirmed all lines are blocked at Huntingdon and issued a stark “Do Not Travel” warning for the East Coast Main Line. This disruption is expected to continue “until at least the end of the day on Monday 3rd November. National Rail has confirmed the station’s closure, and local police have also closed the A1307 road near the town centre to support the emergency operation.
The train remains a major crime scene at Huntingdon station as forensic officers conduct a thorough examination. The BTP-led investigation will now focus on interviewing the two arrested suspects, reviewing CCTV from the train and stations, and collating extensive witness testimony.
Police are appealing to the public for any information. Cambridgeshire Constabulary urged anyone with details to report it online, quoting incident 495 of 1 November, or by calling 101.
The Information is Collected from BBC and CNN.
